Appliance for brushing, dusting, and polishing floors



P 1929. A. w. SAUNDERS 1,729,311

, APPLIANCE FOR BRUSHING, DUSTING, A ND POLISHING FLOORS Filed A ril 21, eze 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 P 1929. A. w. SAUNDERS 1,729,311

APPLIANCE FOR BRU SHING, DUSTING, AND POLISHING FLOORS Filed Aprii 21, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y Sept. 24, 1929. A. EQAUNDEIRIS APPLIANCE FOR BRUSHING, DUSTING, AND POLISHING FLOORS Filed April 21,-- 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7v r2 1 6 /4. M

WW. lllllmw Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPLIANCE FOR BRUSHING, DUSTING, AND POLISHING FLOORS Application filed April 21, 1926, Serial No. 103,537, and in Great Britain June 16, 1925.

This invention has reference to an improved appliance for brushing, dusting and polishing floors, say, which are covered with linoleum and like floor coverings, hereinafter termed the floor covering, and it has particular reference to that type of appliance in which the bristles of a brush are fixed to one .side of, say, the head of the appliance, and to the edges of the said head is attached the band portion of a mop.

The object of this invention is to provide means for readily attaching and securing the mop fabric to the edge of the head of the appliance without the use of fixed pins or hooks and eyelets, and also readily detaching the mop fabric therefrom when it is required to be washed or otherwise cleaned.

In this invention the head is made of any convenient shape, such as a heart or triangular shape provided with a central recess which extends inwardly from the base or enlarged portion of the heart or triangle. In the edge of the said head is formed a groove which extends around the perimeter of the head and partly into the recess formed therein. Into the central recess is placed a retaining member having two flanges,one flange being on its upper edge the second flange on the lower edge,-of the same or different sizes; the retaining member thus forms a wedge for securing the over-lapping ends of the said band securely in position within the said recess, thereby enabling the mop fabric to be readily attached,and detached,and retained in position on the per imeter of the head and within the recess without any additional means being provided'for holding the mop fabric in position.

The retaining member issecured in position by means of a number of screws passing through the larger flange, or by a spring catch device engaging ratchet teeth or serrations formed on a pin fixed to the said block.

In the retaining member is provided a recess in which is pivoted or otherwise jointed the ferrule or socket in which is screwed or otherwise fixed the handle of the appliance.

In the drawings hereunto annexed is shown a means for carrying the invention into practice, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device;

Fig. 2 an end elevation looking in the direction of arrow A;

Fig. 3 a section on line X, X, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 a plan of the head with the mop band loosely applied thereto;

Fig. 5 a plan of the head with the flanged retaining member in its secured position and with the receiver for the handle applied thereto;

Fig. 6 a part sectional plan on line Y, Y, Fig. 1 showing the mop band and its over lapping edges secured in position by the re taining member;

Fig. 7 a side elevation of the fixing block and pivoted handle receiving portion;

Fig. 8 an end elevation of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of arrow B;

Fig. 9 a plan of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a view of the mop removed from the head, but shown in the position it as sumes when,fixed to the said head;

Fig. 11 is a part sectional elevation illustrating a portion of the head of the appli ance constructed to receive the pin with ratchet teeth secured to the retaining member;

Fig. 12 an elevation of the retaining member provided with a pin having ratchet teeth or serrations on its periphery;

Fig. 13 a part sectional elevation showing the head with the peripheral groove without the mop but with the retaining member, pin and spring catch in position;

Fig. 14 an underneath plan of Fig. 3;

Fig. 15 a similar view to Fig. 11 but showing a modification of the method of fixing the spring plate in position;

Fig. 16 a part transverse section of the modified means for securing the spring catch in position.

The several views are not all drawn to the same scale.

. Like parts in all the views are marked with similar reference numerals.

1 is the head of the appliance which may be made of wood or any other suitable material and it may be of the heart shape shown in the drawings, or of any other required shape, as may be desired. In the perimeter of the head 1 is formed an inwardly curved groove 2 and at its enlarged end is formed a recess 3. The perimetrical groove 2 is carried partially into the recess 3.

To one of the surfaces, say the upper surface 4, of the head 1 are fixed in any convenient manner the tufts of bristles, fibre or bone, hereinafter termed bristles 5,- which form the brush which can be used for scrubbing and polishing purposes. In practice the bristles are arranged in clusters and they are kept well Within the perimeter of the head 1.

The mop fabric 6 consists of a number of strands,made of the usual fibrous materiah which are made of such a length that when the brush is in use these strands will fall over the outer edges of the clusters of bristles and will form a soft buffer for preventing any damage being done to the furniture or skirting boards of a. room or apartment in which the appliance is used. The upper ends of the strands 6 forming the mop fabric are fixed in a band7 of any suitable woven textile material, such as strong calico, or unbleached cotton sheeting or the like. The mop fabric is formed by placing a number of strands 6 transversely across a strip of material, the ends of which are folded over to meet at its centre so as to enclose the central portion of the said strands, and by folding the strip again along its longitudinal centre line and sew ing it in this position. The band 7 of the completed mop is such that it will pass into and around the perimetrical groove 2 in the head 1 and it is provided with the extension portions 20 and 21 for purposes to be presently described.

The retaining member, which forms an important feature of this invention, maybe made in the form of a metal stamping, as shown at Figs. 7 to 9, and consists of a vertical portion 8 having two horizontal flanges 9 and 10 arranged upon its upper and lower edges. The flanges are made of the same or different widths, as shown in *igs. 7 and 9 they are of different widths. The depth of the vertical portion 8 is of such a size as will permit of the head 1 passing between the surfaces of the flanges, the flange 10 being fixed to the bottom side of the head 1, as shown at Figs. 1 to 3. Holes 11 are also provided in the flange 10 by which the retaining member or stamping is retained in position. The vertical portion 8 is shaped to the contour of the recess 3, and the outer ends 12, 12 are arranged to terminate at or about the portion of the recess 3, as shown in Figs. and 6.

In the retaining member is also formed a recess 13 prov'ded with the flared or extending curved ec ges 1e, 14 adapted to fit to the contour of the recess 3. In the recess 13 formed in the fixing block is passed the tube 15 provided with aclosed end 16 and jointed or pivoted to the vertical portion 8 of the retaining member by the pin 17 which may or may not be riveted thereto.

In the tubular portion 15 are arranged a number of angular projections 18 which extend inwardly and form a screw thread for retaining the handle 19 in position within the tubular portion 15 which forms the receptacle therefor. The projections 18 are formed on two opposite sides of the tubular portion, as shown at Figs. 3 and 7.

In some cases it may be found advisable to shorten the end of the tube 15 by cutting away its rear portion at 24: (Figs. 12, 13 and 141:) so as to make room for connecting the horizontal pin 25 to be presently described. The retaining member, its flanges 9 and and pivoted tube are of the same shape and constructed as previously described. The pin is secured to the rear portion 8 of the retaining member and projects therefrom in a horizontal position, as shown at Figs 12 and 1.3. The pin 25 is fixed in position by riveting or securing thereto, or by any other convenient means, and in order to permit of the tube 15, which receives the handle 19,moving freely on its pivot 17, the rear end is cut away at 24-.

On the upper or lower portion of the horizontal pin 25 are cut or otherwise formed a number of serrations or ratchet teeth 26 for securing the retaining member in position and retaining the band 7 of the mop within the peripheral groove 2 and on the head 1 of the appliance.

In addition to the main recess 3 in the head 1 there is formedan additional recess 27 and a horizontal hole 28 which communicates with the recesses 3 and 27. One portion 29 of the recess 27 is formed at an oblique angle to the horizontal hole 28, and on the inclined surface is fixed a piece of flat steel 30 which forms a spring catch for engaging with the ratchet teeth or serrations 26.

The spring plate 30 is made of such a length that its inner end engages with the said ratchet teeth or serrations 26, and the said plate is shown in the drawings to be secured in position with one or more screws 31 of any ordinary construction.

In some cases it may be found advisable to slightly modify the arrangement of screw 31 by providing,as shown at Figs. 15 and 16,-the inclined portion 29'with a metal or other bushing 32, and in order to facilitate the ready removal or the fixing of the said screw, to provide the stem thereof with an interrupted screw thread 33,-one or more interruptions being arranged longitudinally along the stem of the screw,an-d adapted to engage with a corresponding internal screw thread formed in the 32.

By the means just described the interrupted thread provides for the stem of the screw being first inserted in the bushing and then, on turning the screw by its head 34 readily fixing the plate 30 in position.

When it is desired to remove the retaining member from the recess 3, the screws 23 require to be first withdrawn so as to permit of the said member being removed from the central recess 3 and the band detached from the peripheral groove 2.

In some cases it may be found more advantageous to employ a retaining member provided with the horizontal pin and to secure the ends 20, 21, together by sewing or other convenient means. When the ends are sewn together then provision in the end of a hole or slot will require to be formed in the said ends for the passage of the pin 25 to the horizontal hole 28. When this is done the ends of the band may be arranged so that their overlapping parts do not extend fully to the inner extremity of the central recess 3. The horizontal pin on being pressed along the hole 28 will first ride over the inner end of the spring plate until the vertical portion 8 of the fixing block is in a position to securely clamp the band 7 of the mop in position, and will retain it in this locked position until the screw 31 is withdrawn from the head 1 and the plate 30 removed from its engagement with the ratchet teeth or serrations 26. After the withdrawal of the plate 30 from its engagement with the ratchet teeth or serrations 26, the pin 25 and retaining member can be respectively withdrawn from the hole 28 and the recess 3 and the band of the mop released from its connection with the head 1.

It will readily be understood that when the ratchet teeth 26 are formed on the upper portion of the periphery of the pin 25, then the recess 27 and inclined portion 29 will require to be formed in the upper surface of the head 1, instead of in the under surface 36, as shown at Figs. 11, 13 and 15. Also, that although the pin 25 is shown to be circular in cross section it may, when required be of any other convenient shape.

By securing the mop in position on the head as hereinbefore described, provision is made for tightening it thereon when it becomes slack as a result of soaking in water or washing.

lVhen the mop is new and has just been afiixed to the head, it is not necessary, in the first instance, to push the fixing block to the inner extremity of the central recess 3 to secure the mop on to the head 1, and thus provision is made for pushing the member further into the recess when the band 7 is lengthened and thereby tightening the mop on the block.

bushing i By making the strands 6 of the mop of su'flicient length, the result is obtained that when the bristles are employed, for brushing, scrubbing or polishing purposes, the strands will fall over the perimeter of the band and thus form a covering for the brush when in use, thereby preventing damage being done to the furniture, or skirting boards or other portion of a room or compartment.

By pivoting the tube 15 to the retaining member, the appliance can be readily reversed for bringing either the brush portion or its mop into use as required.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, a head having a perimetrical groove in its edge and a recess in one end thereof, strands fixed into a band aranged to fit in said groove, a retaining member having flanges projecting from its upper and lower edges arranged to be inserted into said recess, and means for securing the retaining member and band in posi tion.

2. In a device of the class described, a head having a perimetrical groove in its edge and a recess in one end thereof, strands formed into a band arranged to fit in said groove, a retaining member in said recess for said band and having a portion extending into said head, means engaging said portion for looking the retaining member in position.

8. In a mop holder, a head having a peripheral groove and a recess projecting inwardly at one edge thereof, an opening formed in one side of the head and communicating with said recess, said opening having an inclined portion, a spring plate secured to said inclined portion, a retaining member having a serrated projection extending into said recess and arranged to engage said spring plate for securing the retaining member in position.

4. Ina mop holder, a head having a periph eral groove, and a horizontal hole projecting inwardly at one edge thereof, an angularly disposed opening formed in one side of said head and communicating with said horizontal hole, a retaining member having a pin projecting into said recess and said hole, and means in said opening for engaging said pin to secure the retaining member in position.

5. In a mop holder, a substantially fiat head having a peripheral groove and a recess projecting inwardly at one edge thereof, the underside of said head having an opening communicating with a horizontal passage in said head, said opening having an inclined portion, strands fixed into a band arranged to fit in said groove, a retaining member inserted in said recess and having a projection extending into said horizontal passage, said extension being provided with serrations, a handle receiving tube movably connected to said retaining member, and means detachably connecting the retaining member to the head.

6. A cleaning device of the class described comprising a base having a perimetrical groove, flexible elements mounted in said groove, a retaining member connected to said base for securing said elements in said groove, bristles secured to one side of said base, said flexible elements being of such a length as to extend over the sides of the body and act as a buffer therefore, when the bristles are in use.-

ARTHUR WVALTER SAUNDERS. 

